Humidifier or Vaporizer? Humidifier, hands-down. A cool mist humidifier is what you want to sooth irritated airways. Vaporizers heat water into steam and they can burn or scald children who are naturally curious and active. It’s unclear whether adding anything … Continue reading →

These tablets are made from lactose and acacia gum to which has been added diluted components that cause sneezing, headache, runny nose and eyes. Homeopathy works on the belief that “like cures like,” and that if you dilute something that causes … Continue reading →

During the cough and cold season, I always remember this article from Pediatrics in Review about Home Remedies for Colds from Around the World. Home care is what doctors recommend when the body needs a tincture of time to heal itself. Teas … Continue reading →

In 2008, the Food and Drug Administration made sweeping changes to the children’s cold and cough medicine aisle. Cough and cold medicines are not effective in children and can be unsafe. Products for children under 2 years of age were … Continue reading →

This video explains why cough medicines don’t work. The whole 6 minutes is worth a look, but you can skip to the 2:00 mark on the video to see an animation of mucociliary clearance. Cilia are the tiny hair-like projections that line … Continue reading →

People use the word “flu” as short-hand for any number of respiratory or intestinal infections, but for doctors “flu” is influenza. And when it comes to respiratory infections, it’s the big one. Influenza has arrived in Northern California. The infection … Continue reading →

Nosebleeds are common in kids. Here’s what you need for home care. A dry nose—from not drinking enough, indoor heating, or dry winter air—makes nosebleeds worse. Antihistamines will also dry the nose. Add a runny nose from a cold or … Continue reading →

First things first: cough is good. If you didn’t cough, you couldn’t keep your lungs clean and tidy. Your lungs are lined with cells that secrete mucus to trap the things that float in the air like viruses, bacteria, and … Continue reading →

A cold, they say, lasts seven days if you take medicine, and a week if you don’t. This chart shows the usual progression from the first few days of fever and sore throat to nasal congestion and cough, that can … Continue reading →

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Copyright 2011 Lisa M. Asta.

This website is not meant to take the place of your child's personal physician. If you are concerned about any aspect of your child's development, health, or well-being, you should contact your pediatrician.